PEUGEOT 307 CC 2003 test drive - 2005 convertible

Demi -season compartment

Peugeot 307ss is good for traveling in any weather, and is equally suitable for both women and men
 
An attractive appearance (and the machine is preho -native! - I heard), a luxurious salon, richly trimmed with leather, automatic checkpoint - What else can a woman wish for? And the honed ergonomics, sports motives in the interior, a harsh suspension, an abundance of elements in the Hi -Tech style, perky behavior on the road - isn't these criteria guided when choosing a man? So it turns out that Peugeot brought to the Russian market a stylish unisex model.
 
Until recently, Peugeot sold in our country the only Cabiolet compartment created on the basis of the compact 206th series. A good little car, you won’t say anything, but too small. Two places in front - and that’s all. The trunk, if you compare it with road accessories, rather resembled a female ugly than a voluminous suitcase. In general, a fairly selfish machine for traveling around the city and the nearest environs. You can, of course, travel, but on the highway such a short -lacked machine is not so comfortable.
 
The second Cabiolet compartment in Peugeot Gamma has become much more practical and more convenient. If only because it is made on the basis of the senior in rank of the 307th model. And this means increased in comparison with the 206th base and ruts, a spacious interior, finally, modern technical solutions (307th a couple of years younger than a relative).
 
When the roof rides
 
The phrase of a capricious coupe in the understanding of French engineers means a hard top, which, as necessary, folds into the trunk, opening access to the salon to fresh air and the rays of the sun. The process occurs completely without human participation, except for such a 25-second press on the corresponding key located between the front seats. All locks are unlocked independently, the trunk lid is raised, of course, automatically. The only thing you need to do yourself is to raise or lower the side glass.
 
All the time, while the roof is traveling, its condition is displayed on a large screen, which is carried out under the most windshield exactly in the middle of the front panel. A drawn car to the beat of the electric engineers moving the entire design shows what is happening behind you. And the end of the process is accompanied by a pleasant sound signal.
 
True, the weather on the day of the dough did not really favor communicating with nature directly, without glasses and roofs, so that experiments with the turning of a car from a compartment into a convertible ended quite quickly - it was too cold. Although I must make a reservation that the main discomfort was delivered by a piercing wind walking along the cabin. It was not possible to enclose from him. Meanwhile, the climatic installation quite tolerated the heated legs and trunk. In general, in my opinion, you can start driving without a top at 307ss, when the air on the street warms up to 12-14. Demi -season car, in a word.
 
More sports
 
And again, a parallel with the younger-ranking coupe is a 206CS compartment. I don’t know why, but I clearly call that car. Perhaps because I used to see the representatives of the fair sex, and maybe just because of its appearance - the model is small and neat. 307ss is precisely masculine. It is more, more representative, respects the road. And the interior is deprived of any playfulness - modern, concise, with a claim for luxury and sports. The only element that is slightly knocked out of this row is the climate control system control unit. He turned out to be unexpectedly rounded, and, such an impression, inspired by the once popular bio design. The remaining elements of the cabin are more strict and set in a serious way.

 
For example, white scales of devices bordered by chrome rings. A chubby bagel with stamping under a comfortable grip, decorated with inserts from matte aluminum. The silver background of the central console, which contains the climate control unit, a couple of ventilation deflectors, buttons of turning on additional equipment, as well as a radio, dimensions exceeding even 2Din. Its upper part is the source control unit and sound quality, plus the keyboard of the built -in mobile phone, plus a couple of joysticks responsible for transitions from mode to regime. The lower one is a wide CD chamber for five discs, each of which has its own slot. By the way, from the point of view of air purity in Moscow, it is not the most practical solution, since dust will penetrate inside the exact laser device will be easier.
 
Separate praises deserve seats. Let them be deprived of electrical adjustments - all the handles need to reach for all the handles - but they are extremely convenient. Unlike standard Peugeot 307, seats have developed lateral support. Plus, it is mild to interior in comparison with many sports models, which is very relevant for me personally. The seats behind are rather children's, although a couple of miniature and patient ladies can get behind the driver and not complain about inconvenience. I think so - even a man can withstand an hour and a half in the back seats.
 
Do not worry, you are in the cage
 
It is natural that another question is very relevant for the Cabiolet compartment - security. In comparison with the usual hatchback, there are many changes aimed exclusively to the protection of the riders compared with the usual hatchback. These are thick pipes, coming from the thresholds to the very edges of the windshields of windshield, an enhanced bottom and sidewalls of the body, the arcs, which, if only the possibility of a coup in an open version, is automatically shot behind the rear headrests. Add here a complete arsenal of electronic systems - and get a convertible, which at first glance is even more protected than his fellow with a whole roof.
 
New power elements were in the best way, as one should expect, on the behavior of a car on the road. The added metal significantly reduced the center of gravity of the model, which is why it began to hold on to the road in just in some magical way. It seemed that I was about to hear the screech of rubber and feel the demolition of the front in the bend, but the car continued to clearly prescribe the trajectory. As if a concrete plate weighing no less than a ton was laid on top of it. Not bad for the compartment! And if you fold the roof, thereby removing one of the power elements of the body of the body? At standard speeds, nothing has changed at all. Perhaps, reactions to the steering of the steering wheel increased by the hundredth of a second, but nothing more. If you are not a specialist and did not set the goal of really checking it in practice, then believe me - you will not feel anything.
 
As for aerodynamic noise, the denouement from them is worthy of praise. With an open body, you can talk, without raising the voices at about a speed of 50 km/h. When the roof hangs over the head, then 307ss was no different from the standard hatchback. The work of the motor is also almost indistinguishable against the general background. Only when it is selected for the maximum 7000 rpm, the salon is filled with a slight rollene. I must say that 137 forces of a two -liter engine for a compact model are quite enough. The picture in my case spoiled only the machine. This is a quite modern unit with five ranges, sports and manual modes. However, for a combat mood it seemed not enough. In the sense that the automatic transmission reduces the sharpness of understanding of the car, does not allow to add pepper gas in its character with the help of sharp actions. The engine is simply gaining momentum - and that’s all. And from the cocky and sports Svida 307ss, I expected a little more.
 
Finally - about prices. The base 307ss with a hand automatic transmission, a complete set of electronics, adjustments, an on-board computer, climate control, on cast 16-inch discs and many other equipment will cost 26,900 euros. The same car, but with an automaton, costs 2000 euros more. A leather salon with heated chairs, covered with the same natural material, the front panel in the color of the seats, the washer washer and branded rugs will require another 2800 euros. In general, along with insurance of the Capricol compartment 307ss, it will closely get to the mark of 30,000 euros, which, in my opinion, is a little expensive. Except for 3 years or 120,000 km, as well as interservice runs of 30,000 km, can reassure perhaps a warranty. The main competitor is Renault Megane Cabrio, which has not yet been supplied to Russia.
 
Brief technical characteristics of Peugeot 307cc
Engine volume, cubic meter. See: 1997
The number of valves for the cylinder: 4
Power, l. With. at about./min.: 137/6000
Max. Torque, Nm/at about. min.: 190/4100
Acceleration to 100 km/h, p.: 10.9 (12.7)
Maximum speed, km/h: 207 (204)
Average fuel consumption l./100 km.: 8.2 (8.9)
Fuel tank volume, l.: 60
Dimensions, mm.: 4340x1745x1420
 
In brackets - data for the version with automatic transmission
 
Sergey Ilyinsky
 
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia" [No. 9 (55), 2004]